Gendry seems to be set up to be Arya’s romantic interest. He begins the story as a nobody bastard from flea bottom. Then he’s knighted by Beric. Eventually he’ll probably find out he has kingsblood. He’s the fastest political climber in the world! Which is exactly what he needs to be if he’s going to have any chance at pairing off with a princess of Winterfell before this story is over.
I don’t expect Martin to play this trope straight at all. There’s probably going to be some twisted take on it, as there seems to be with many things in this story.
Apples and Dragons 